Fluid pressure control



Oct. 11, 1966 J. E. HOGEL FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL Filed Feb. 5, 1964 AIR SUPPLY FIE 1 EXHAUST BRANCH INVENTOR. (70551 195 14 0662 wily United States Patent Oflice 3,277,923 FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL Joseph E. Hegel, River Grove, Ill., assignor to Honeywell Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 342,648 9 Claims. (Cl. 137-6275) The present invention is directed to a fluid pressure control device and particularly to a valve device suited to control air pressure in response to small movements of an actuator. More specifically, the device is adapted to control pressure in a branch line by selectively opening air supply and exhaust ports in a pressure chamber. Commonly in such devices the controlled pressure acts on a diaphragm to oppose and balance the force of some actuating means in order to close both the supply and exhaust ports.

The advance in the art supplied by this invention lies in a construction that requires a minimum number of parts that are readily assembled and require no adjustment subsequent to assembly. The pressure chamber is defined by two similar casing sections that are mounted in face-to-face relation with a pair of valve disk members held between them. The valve disk members are shaped to cooperate with the casing sections to form a part of the periphery of the casing as well as to provide the actual valve disks which cooperate with supply and exhaust ports in the casing sections.

The actual construction of a preferred embodiment will be described in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation of the control valve unit,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of one of the two similar valve members,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary exploded view, in section al elevation, of the two valve members, and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary exploded view, in sectional elevation, similar to FIGURE 3, but showing an alternative construction.

The device to be described is a fluid pressure control valve that can be used in various 'ways in pneumatic control systems and may be considered as a transducer of general application. It may be used to translate any variable force into a corresponding air pressure.

For illustrative purposes a lever is shown as applying a variable force on a diaphragm 12. A screw 14 carried by the lever 10 engages a pressure plate 15 on the diaphragm 12. As will be seen later, movements of lever 10 and diaphragm 12 actuate supply and exhaust valves to provide a pressure beneath the diaphragm which results in an outward force that equals the inward force applied by the lever 10.

The periphery of diaphragm 12 is held between a ring 17 and an annular flat surface 18 of a casing section 20 to provide a sealed chamber beneath the diaphragm, which chamber is in communication with -a valve chamber as will appear below. The casing section 20 has a cylindrieal outer surface 21 and a second flat annular surface 22 parallel to surface 18. The casing is recessed inside the surface 18 to permit free movement of the diaphragm and is also provided with a recess inside the surface 22 to provide a portion of a valve chamber 24. The casing section 20 has a radial passage 26 in which an air supply pipe 27 is secured. Passage 26 communicates with a passage 29 which is parallel to the axis of the casing section but spaced radially therefrom. Passages 26 and 29 provides a port through the wall of the casing section that terminates at a flat valve face 31 on a boss raised within the valve chamber recess 24. The valve face 31 lies in the plane of the annular surface 22 and may conveniently 3,277,923 Patented Oct. 11, 1966 be formed in a lapping operation that provides the desired surface on both the valve face 31 and the annular surface 22. An actuating pin 33 is slidable on an axial bore in casing section 20, its left hand end engaging diaphragm 12 and its right hand end extending to a point approximately in the plane of the annular surface 22 to actuate the valve mechanism to be described below. The fit of pin 33 in the casing section 20 is such that air can flow past it readily between the valve chamber 24 and the space under diaphragm 12.

The valve mechanism consists of a pair of flexible plates 35 and 36 secured between the casing section 20 and a second casing section 40. The two plates 35 and 36 are of identical configuration, plate 35 being shown in FIGURE 2. This plate has an annular peripheral portion that engages the surface 22 on the casing section 20. An arm 37 extends radially inwardly from the annular portion and terminates in a centrally disposed portion engageable by the actuating pin 33. Diametrically opposed to the arm 37 is a projection 38 that overlies the valve face 31 and cooperates therewith to open and close the air supply port. The valve plate 36, while identical in configuration to plate 35, is disposed against the plate 35 and with its projection 38a lying against the arm 37 of the plate 35. As seen in the exploded view of FIGURE 3, the projections 38 and 38a are preset at a small angle out of the plane of the annular portions of the respective plates. Likewise, the arms 37 and 37a also are preset at a small angle out of the planes of the annular portions of the respective plates.

Casing section 40 is identical to casing section 20 but it is mounted with its two ends reversed and with its cylindrical portion turned with respect to casing section 20. Section 40 is provided with a radial bore 42 that communicates with a bore 43 parallel to the axis of the casing and terminating at a valve face 45 lying in the plane of an annular surface 47. The surface 47 of casing section 40 lies against the annular portion of valve plate 36. The passages 42 and 43 provide a port through the 21:11 of this casing section to exhaust air from the chamber A member 49 closes the right hand end of the casing 40 and lies against a gasket 50 which in turn lies against an annular surface 51 of the casing section 40. Air pressure within the chamber 24 communicates through a central bore 53 in casing section 40 through a chamber 54 beneath the member 49. A branch line pipe 56 is secured within bore 57 in member 49 and a bore 58 extends from bore 57 to the chamber 54 so that the pressure within chamber 24 is transmitted to the pipe 56.

As described earlier, the projections 38 and 38a of the valve plates 35 and 36 are preset to have a small normal angular displacement from the plane of the annular portions of the plates. As shown in FIGURE 3, these projections will assume positions to open both the air supply port an the exhaust port unless otherwise constrained. Since the arm 37a of valve plate 36 is displaced to the left and is somewhat wider and can exert more force than the projection 38 against which it lies, it will hold the projection 33 against the supply port. The position of the arm 37a is determined by the position of the arm 37 since the actuating pin 33 engages the arm 37, which in turn engages the arm 370. In the normal position shown in FIGURE 1, the pin 33 holds the arms 37 and 37a in the planes of their respective plates so that the supply port is closed. Likewise, the arm 37 is positioned by pin 33 so as to hold the projection 38a against the exhaust port. If the actuating lever 10 should move to the left, the pin 33 will permit turn the arm 37a to the right which will permit the projecjection 38a to move away from the exhaust port. This will reduce the pressure beneath the diaphragm 12 so that the lever and pin 33 will tend to return to the position shown in FIGURE 1. Likewise, if the lever 10 should move to the right, the pin 33 will move the arm 37 and in turn the arm 37a to the right which will permit the projection 38 to move away from the air supply port. This will raise the pressure within the chamber 24 and increase the pressure beneath the diaphragm 12 tending to move the lever 10 and pin 33 to the left and return the arms 37 and 37a to the position shown in FIGURE 1 in which both the supply and exhaust ports are closed.

An alternative construction of the valve plates 35 and 36 is shown in FIGURE 4. Here, the plates not only are of identical configuration, but have identically displaced arms 37 and 37a. While the projection 38 has a normal angular displacement toward the supply port, the port Will nonetheless be opened by the air supply pressure when the arm 37a is moved to the right. This construction further contributes to economy of manufacture since every step in the manufacture of the two valve plates can be the same.

The cooperating surfaces of easing sections and 40 and of valve plates 35 and 36 are preferably finished by lapping to assure an adequately tight seal for chamber 24 Without the use of gaskets. Since the valve plates directly engage the casing sections they also are properly disposed to close the supply and exhaust ports which are in the same planes as the annular peripheral surfaces of the respective casing section. This arrangement provides an inexpensive construction both as to fabrication and lack of necessity for adjustment.

I claim:

1. A fluid pressure control device comprising, first and second identical casing sections each having an annular plane surface, a port through a wall of each casing section terminating in a valve face in the plane of the annular surface and intermediate the annular surface and the axis thereof, the port through said first casing section being a fluid supply port and the port through said second casing section being a fluid exhaust port, first and second superimposed plates of resilient material and identical configuration having annular portions in engagement with the annular surfaces of said casing sections and each having a flexible projection extending radially inwardly over the valve face of the engaged casing section, and each plate having an arm extending radially inwardly to the axis of the annular surfaces and lying against the projection on the other plate, the projections on each of said plates having a normal angular displacement from the plane of the annular portion tending to maintain the associated port open, and the arms of said plates having normal angular displacements from the plane of the annular portion tending to maintain the fluid supply port closed and the exhaust port open, and an actuating member movable to engage one of said arms to move both arms to first close the exhaust port and then open the fluid supply port.

2. A fluid pressure control device comprising first and second substantially identical casing sections each having an annular plane surface and a coaxial cylindrical opening therethrough, a port through a wall of each casing section terminating in a valve face in the plane of the annular surface and intermediate the annular surface the cylindrical opening, one of said ports being a fluid pres- ,sure supply port and the other being an exhaust port, first and second superimposed plates of resilient material and identical configuration each having an annular portion in engagement with the annular surface of one of said casing sections and a flexible projection extending radially inwardly over the valve face of that casing section, and each plate having an arm extending radially inwardly from the opposite side of the annular portion and overlying the projection on the other plate, the arms and projections of said plates being formed with respect to the valve faces normally to open the exhaust port and close the supply port, an actuating member slidable in the cylindrical opening of the casing section having the supply port and engaging the arm of the plate in engagement with the supply port and adapted to move both arms to close the exhaust port and open the supply port, a diaphragm engaging the other end of said actuating member including a periphery sealed to the casing section having the supply port, and a member closing the remote end of the other casing section to complete a chamber, the pressure in which is controlled by the supply and exhaust ports, which pressure is controlled by the force applied to the outside of said diaphragm.

3. A fluid pressure control device comprising first and second identical casing sections each having an annular vplane surface and a coaxial cylindrical opening therethrough, a port through a wall of each casing section terminating in a valve face in the plane of the annular surface and intermediate the annular surface and the cylin- .drical opening, first and second superimposed plates of resilient material and identical configuration each having an annular portion in engagement with the annular surface of one of said casing sections and a flexible projection extending radially inwardly over the valve face of that casing section, and each plate having an arm extending radially inwardly from the opposite side of the annular portion and overlying the projection on the other plate, an actuating member slidable within the cylindrical opening in one of said casing sections to engage the arm on one of said plates, a diaphragm engaging the other end of said actuating member and forming a pressure chamber in conjunction with the section of said casing carrying said actuating member, and a member closing the remote end of the other casing section, said member having a port therethrough to transmit the pressure within the casing.

4. A fluid pressure control device comprising first and second identical casing sections each having an annular plane surface and a coaxial cylindrical opening therethrough, a port through a wall of each casing section terminating in a valve face in the plane of the annular surface and intermediate the annular surface and the cyiindrical opening, first and second superimposed plates of resilient material and identical configuration each having an annular portion in engagement with the annular surface of one of said casing sections and a flexible projection extending radially inwardly over the valve face of that casing section, and each plate having an arm extending radially inwardly from the opposite side of the annular portion and overlying the projection on the other plate, and an actuating member slidable within the cylindrical opening in one of said casing sections to engage the arm on one of said plates.

5. A fluid pressure control device comprising first and second identical casing sections each having an annular ,plane surface, a port through a wall of each casing section terminating in a valve face in the plane of the annular surface and intermediate the annular surface and the axis thereof, first and second superimposed plates of resilient material and identical configuration each having an annular portion in engagement with the annular surfaces of said casing sections and each having a flexible projection extending radially inwardly over the valve face of the engaged casing section, and each plate having an arm extending radially inwardly to the axis of the annular surfaces and lying against the projection on the other plate, and an actuating member movable to engage one of said arms at the aforesaid axis to move said projections with respect to said valve faces.

6. A fluid pressure control device comprising a casing having walls defining an internal chamber, a first port through a wall of said casing terminating within the chamber at a first valve face on the chamber wall, a second port through a wall of said casing terminating within the chamber at a second valve face on the chamber wall parallel to the first valve face but displaced therefrom laterally, first and second superimposed plates of resilient material interposed between the parallel valve faces, each of said plates being contoured to form a flexible projection providing a valve disk cooperating with and adapted to engage one of said valve faces, and further contoured to form a flexible actuating arm engaging the valve disk projection of the other plate, each of said arms extending beyond the engaged valve disk projections and overlying the other of said arms in an actuating area, and an actuating member movable in said casing engaging one of said arms at the actuating area to actuate both valve disks.

7. A fluid pressure control device comprising, a casing having two cooperating sections having walls defining an internal chamber, a first port through a wall of a first of said casing sections terminating within the chamber at a first valve face on that wall, a second port through a wall of the second of said casing sections terminating within the chamber at a second valve face on the wall of that casing section and disposed parallel to the first valve face, first and second superimposed plates of resilient material interposed between the two sections of the casing and between the two valve faces, each of said plates being contoured to form a flexible projection providing a valve disk cooperating with and adapted to engage one of said valve faces, and further contoured to form a flexible actuating arm engaging the valve disk projection of the other plate, each of said arms extending beyond the engaged valve disk projections and overlying the other of said arms in an actuating area, and an actuating member movable in said casing engaging one of said arms at the actuating area to actuate both valve disks.

8. A- fluid pressure control device comprising, a casing having walls defining an internal chamber, first and secing a valve disk cooperating with and adapted to engage one of said valve faces, and further contoured to form a flexible actuating arm engaging the valve disk projection of the other plate, each of said arms extending beyond the 5 engaged valve disk projections and overlying the other of said arms in an actuating area, and an actuating member movable in said casing engaging one of said arms at the actuating area to actuate both valve disks.

9. A fluid pressure control device comprising, a casing having walls defining an internal chamber, first and second ports through the walls of said casing each terminating within the chamber at a valve face, first and second superimposed plates of resilient material each contoured to form a flexible projection providing means adapted to engage one of the valve faces in said casing, and further contoured to form a flexible actuating arm lying against the projection of the other plate, each of said arms extending beyond the cooperating projection to a distal end overlying the distal end of the other arm, and an actuating member movable in said casing engaging a surface of the distal end of one of said arms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,286,282 6/1942 Joesting 137596.18X 3,222,996 12/1965 Thieme 137596.17X

FOREIGN PATENTS 508,911 1/1955 Italy.

ond ports through the walls of said casing each terminating within the chamber at a valve face on the chamber wall, first and second superimposed plates of resilient material each contoured to form a flexible projection provid- WILLIAM F ODEA, Primary Examiner.

C. R. GORDON, Assistant Examiner. 

9. A FLUID PRESSURE CONTROL DEVICE COMPRISING, A CASING HAVING WALLS DEFINING AN INTERNAL CHAMBER, FIRST AND SECOND PORTS THROUGH THE WALLS OF SAID CASING EACH TERMINATING WITHIN THE CHAMBER AT A VALVE FACE, FIRST AND SECOND SUPERIMPOSED PLATES OF RESILIENT MATERIAL EACH CONTOURED TO FORM A FLEXIBLE PROJECTION PROVIDING MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE ONE OF THE VALVE FACES IN SAID CASING, AND FURTHER CONTOURED TO FORM A FLEXIBLE ACTUATING ARM LYING AGAINST THE PROJECTION OF THE OTHER PLATE, EACH OF SAID ARMS EXTENDING BEYOND THE COOPERATING PROJECTION TO A DISTAL END OVERLYING THE DISTAL END OF THE OTHER ARM, AND AN ACTUATING MEMBER MOVABLE IN SAID CASING ENGAGING A SURFACE OF THE DISTAL END OF ONE OF SAID ARMS. 